Collapsible mop support



Oct. 24, 1961 Filed March 51, 1958 L. W. M PHERSON COLLAPSIBLE MOP SUPPORT 3 She LEW/S W. MC

ets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

PHERSON fl r ATTO NEY Oct. 24, 1961 Filed March 51, 1958 L. W. M PHERSON COLLAPSIBLE MOP SUPPORT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LEW/S -W MCPHERSON MMM ATTORNEY Oct. 24, 1961 w. MCPHERSON COLLAPSIBLE MOP SUPPORT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 31, 1958 INVENTOR. LEWIS W MCPHERSON ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,005,220 Patented Oct. 24, 1961 This invention relates generally to floor mops and in particular to mop heads or supports of the folding or collapsible type. The structures illustrated in the drawing are either in the form for receiving a heart-shaped swab which is particularly designed to permit maneuvering the mop in restricted and congested areas or in the form for receiving a rectangular shaped swab that is particularly usable in areas having a large floor space. Swab constructions of both of these forms and of this general type are provided with opposed pockets in the swab arranged to receive the foldable leaf or wing elements of the mop support or head and these elements are designed so that they may be maintained in extended coplanar position whereby the swab is properly located and supported for use or collapsed relative to one another and the rest of the mop head to permit the swab to be easily removed and replaced.

It has been found important in commercializing mops of this general type to provide structure whereby the swab may be replaced with the greatest of case. While many prior art mops are provided with collapsible wings, due to the size and construction of the swab as well as the structure of the leafs and mop head generally, in order to provide a tight fit with the swab for supporting the latter it is still necessary to manually pull oif the swab from the wings, even when the latter are collapsed, and in placing a fresh swab on the leaves the hands of the operator are generally needed to manipulate the swab itself. The present invention in all forms thereof has been designed to overcome these awkward problems involving manual swab handling.

Thus, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a mop support or head having an improved construction whereby the wing elements thereof may be collapsed relative to each other and the mop head, not only in an efiicient and simple manner but to an extent greater than permitted with prior art supports whereby a swab may be positioned thereon or removed therefrom with minimum effort.

A further object is to provide a mop of the type described including a mop support provided with a frame having opposed ends and wings for supporting the swab, said wings being arranged to be collapsed to a position whereby each wing is at a 45 degree angle with respect to its coplanar position, this angle having been found to create the maximum efiiciency in removing the swab, and further wherein the tips of the wings when collapsed are spaced apart a distance less than that between the entrances of the swab pockets.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a mop support, as described in the preceding paragraph, wherein each wing is pivotally mounted on the frame remote from the ends thereof and in some instances on the side of the mop handle opposite where the wing enters a swab pocket which results in a greater relative collapsing of the wings and the wing tips being much closer to one another when collapsed.

It is also an object of this invention to provide improved construction as defined in the preceding two paragraphs whereby a swab may be removed from the wings of the mop support and a new one replaced thereon without the necessity of the operator even touching or handling the swab throughout these operations, assuming the swab is positioned on a surface with the pockets which receive the wing elements upstanding.

A final object of the invention is to provide improved mop heads usable in connection with heart-shaped or rectangular shaped swabs and which are extremely durable and yet relatively light weight and inexpensive to construct.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features thereof and will be more readily understood by a reading of the following specification and by referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof wherein examples of the invention are illustrated and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of one form of a mop support and incorporating the teachings of this invention and showing the handle of a mop broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the support of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the support of FIGURE 1 illustrating the wings thereof in collapsed position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the releasable iatch means incorporated in all forms of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the support of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of a third embodiment of a mop support incorporating the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the support of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a detailed view of a part of the structure illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of a portion of the embodiment of FIGURE 7 in collapsed position.

The novelty of the present invention resides particularly in that part of the mop support or head which permits the wings of the head to be collapsed relative to one another or maintained in a coplanar extended position. Thus, to simplify the issues, the swabs usable with the present embodiments have not been illustrated and the handle means for each mop has been shown as broken away. In connection with the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 3, reference is made to the heart-shaped swabs illustrated in Smith and Yamen Patent No. 2,901,759 issued September 1, 1959 and No. D. 185,727 issued July 21, 1959 entitled respectively Collapsible Mop Support and Mop, as well as my copending application being filed concurrently herewith, Serial No. 725,027 filed March 31, 1958 (all hereinafter referred to as the first group of applications), these swabs being particularly usable in connection with restricted areas. By referring to these pending applications, which together with the present invention are owned by a common assignee, and by referring to the following detailed description it will be apparent how the heart-shaped swab ispositioned on the collapsible wings on the embodiment of FIGURES l to 3, as well as removed therefrom. As to the embodiments of FIGURES 5 to 10 inclusive, reference is made to Yamen Patent No. 2,840,840 issued July 1, 1958 entitled Mop Support, Smith et al. Patent No. 2,901,759 granted September 1, 1959 and entitled Collapsible Mop Sup port and said application being filed concurrently herewith (all hereinafter referred to as the second group of applications), these being also owned by same said assignee and disclosing rectangular shaped swabs of the type usable in connection with the embodiments of FIGURES 5 and 7. i

Referring to the embodiment of FIGURES l to 3, inclusive, there is shown the mop support or head generally represented at S which includes a connector body or frame 1 and extending from one side thereof, as viewed in FIGURE 1, a wing or leaf 2 and extending from the right thereof a wing or leaf 3. The wings 2 and 3 are adapted to be received in pockets P of a heart-shaped swab of the type shown in'said first group of applications. Releasable latch means L is for maintaining the wings 2 and 3 in locked extended coplanar position whereby the swab is properly maintained on support S and to remove the swab the leaves are collapsed to the position shown in FIGURE 3. As shown, the body 1 is of tubular or solid rod construction and is generally square in' shape with one of the opposed ends adjacent the wing 2 being formed with spaced laterally extending U-shaped portions 4. The disconnected opposed ends of the frame or body 1 (illustrated in dotted lines at one instance in FIGURE 1) immediately adjacent the tips of wings- 2 and 3 are surrounded and maintained in position by pivot tubes 5 and 6 integrally connected by any suitable means to the broken ends, such as by crimping. The latter tubes will hereinafter be referred to as the locking tubes and the opposed ends are disconnected to provide space 7 in the tubes .5 and 6. A universal pin insert 8 extends between and within the tubes into space 7 and is supported in a tight fit fashion by tubular portions 5 and 6 and about this pin there is journaled the universal tube 9'which constitutes the primary support for handle means 10. As in many of said pending applications, the handle means 10 is supported in a socket 11 which in turn is keyed to a pin 12 journaled between end loops 13 of a coil spring 14 which surrounds the tube 9 and the pin 12 is maintained in position by any suitable means such as the cotter pin 15. The spring 14 has its convolutions fitted to surround tube 9 with such fitness that rotation of the spring convolutions rotates tube 9 or, in effect, the tube 9 and spring are integral. Various types of supports may be provided for the handle 10, but by the one shown the socket 11 is arranged for substantial universal movement by means of mutually perpendicular pivot points, one being that permitted by rotation of pin 12 and the other being that permitted by rotation of tube 9. As'previously indicated, the wings 2 and 3 are maintained in extended coplanar position when the swab is supported thereon and to remove said swab and replace same with a clean swab the most simplified operation may be carried out when the wings 2 and 3 are collapsed to a position such that they each form a substantial 45 degree angle with a horizontal and vertical plane. However, even when this is done, as in said first group of applications, the tips of the wings or points thereof most remote from the frame 1 are quite a distance apart and this is so due to the fact that wing 2 would generally be pivoted from the end of the frame 1 represented by tube 6 and wing 3 would be pivoted from the end of the frame represented by tube 5 or, in other words, the pivoting action takes place at the ends of frame 1. Due to the fact that the entrances to the opposed pockets P of the swab are much closer together than this position of the wing tips, it is necessary for the operator in removing the swab to manually pull same off of the collapsed wings and in replacing a new swab the swab has to be manually manipulated to place it on the wings. However, by the present invention the collapsed tips T of the wings 2 and 3, while they each form a relation with the horizontal and vertical at an angle of about 45 degrees, are only a distance D, as shown in FIGURE 3, apart and this distance is slightly less than the distance between the entrances to each opposed pocket P of the swab. Thus, for example, assuming a swab to be re placed was resting on the floor with its opposed pockets positioned on top thereof, then the operator could hold onto the handle 10 with the support S collapsed, as shown in FIGURE 3, and the tips of the wings 2 and 3 could be positioned on top of the swab such that they couldthereafter be pushed downwardly and forced direct- 4 l-y into the swab pockets without any need whatsoever for the operator to personally handle the swab. The same is true in connection with removing a swab once the wings are collapsed to a position as indicated in FIG- URE 3.

All of the above advantages are accomplished by pivoting or journaling each wing remote from its adjacent frame end or on the side of frame 1 opposite to that described. As shown in FIGURES l to 3, tubular or solid rod wing 2 is provided at one terminal thereof with loops 17 which are journaled about tube 5 and thus the pivotal axis for wing 2 is at the tube 5 end of frame 1. Wing 3 also terminates at one side thereof in loops 18 which are journaled or pivoted on the bases 16 of U-shaped portions 4. By having this type of pivoted arrangement, when the wings or leaves 2 and 3 are to be collapsed to the 45 degree position discussed, such will result in the tips thereof being no farther apart than that represented by the letter D. To control the 45 degree relationship in the collapsed position and to cause substantial conjoint movement of the wings at least during return from collapsed to extended position, one of the wings, wing 3 as illustrated, is provided with detoured portions 19 through which parts of wing2 extend and this action will be apparent.

The embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 3 as well as the two other embodiments of the invention to be hereinafter discussed are provided with identical releasable latch means for maintaining the wings in extended coplanar position for permitting the release thereof, depending upon the actuation of this latch means which will be generally represented throughout the figures by the letter L. This latch means, which may assume various forms, is shown in the enlarged view of FIGURE 4 and includes a locking foot pedal 21, a locking spring 22 and a locking disc 23 having extending bifurcated portions 24 providing a space 25 adapted to receive a part 26 of wing 2 and when this part is so received within slot 25 the wings 2 and 3 are locked in extendedcoplanar position.

Locking pedal 21 is more or less U-shaped and is provided with depending spaced apart legs 27, each of. which include an aperture 28 of a size to receive pivot tube 6 whereby the latter in effect carries pedal 21. Spring 22 has its convolutions surrounding tube 6, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, and the terminal portions 29 of spring 22 are positioned within recesses 30* of portions 27, said recesses communicating with apertures 28. Disc 23 includes an opening 31 through which tube 6 passes and communicating with this opening 31 is a recess 32 within which one of the terminals 29 extends. The convolu-. tions of the spring 22 are such that when no pressure is applied to pedal 21, the disc 23 as well as the pedal 21 are biased to the position shown in FIGURES l and 2 which means that portion 26 of wing 2 is within space 25 and thus the wings are locked in their extended coplanar position. It will be noted that in this latter position ofv pedal 21 the right terminal 29 rests against edge 33 of the right (as viewed in FIGURE 4) recess '30 while the other terminal 29 is positioned in the middle of recess 30. When the operator applies his foot to pedal 21 and exerts a downward movement thereon to cause pivoting action about tube 6, the spring 22 will start to unwind an amount until the left terminal 29strikes corresponding edge 33 of the left recess 30 and this provides enough movement, to unloosen the convolutions of the spring 22 whereby further downward movement will result in all of the latch parts rotating to, for example, the position of that shown in FIGURE 2 and the latch will be held in this position due to the spring convolutions tightening. At this time if the connector 1 is elevated from the fioor surface, portion 26 will fall out of space 25 and the wings 2 and 3will collapse as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. Assuming the tips T and T of the wings, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, are just above a clean swab S on the floor, then it is apparent how these tips may be di-L rected intothe pockets P and the connector 1 pushed downwardly until the wings 2 and 3 are within the pockets and in extended coplanar position and during this movement portion 26 will be received back into space 25 since the latter is in the path of travel of part 26 and return the foot pedal to the position shown in FIGURES l and 3. Although latch L is preferred, it is to be understood that various-types of latches may be employed.

Now referring to the embodiment of the invention of FIGURE 5, like parts, although enlarged, will be given similar numerals, but primed. The connector frame 1' of support S is practically identical with the previously described connector 1, except that the U-portions 4 have been eliminated and the connector 1 is larger. The ends of connector 1' are positioned within tubes 5 and 6 and the socket 11 is mounted for universal movement by pivoting action about two manually perpendicular axes in the same manner as previously described. The wings 40 and 41 are of the type to be received in pockets of a rectangular shaped swab such as described in said second group of applications. Each wing 40 and 41 includes extending spaced U-shaped portions 42 and 43 respectively, divided by a portion 44 and 45 respectively, the latter portions being the ones engaged by the locking disc of the latches L. Wings 40 and 41 also include relatively straight portions which terminate in spaced apart loops 46 and 47 respectively, and it will be noted that the loops 46 of Wing 40 are connected for pivotal movement about tube 5' while loops 47 are connected for pivotal movement about tube 6'. Opposite straight portions of wings 40 and 41 are detoured to veer inwardly from the tip adjacent each end of the frame then to return sharply for extension along their original course,

as at 48 and such detours obviously control the position of wings and 41 during collapsed movement and return to coplanar position. In operation, when the wings 40 and 41 are in the extended coplanar position of FIGURE 5, they are locked in said position by the latches L and the swab, not shown, is locked in place thereon. Upon the operator resting the mop on the floor and then depressing with his foot the latches L in the manner described and thereafter elevating connector 1', the wings 40 and 41 will be permitted to fall to a degree position comparable to that illustrated in FIG- URE 2 and since the pivot points of each wing are on the opposite end of the frame 1' from which the wings extend, the tip T of the wings will again assume a closely spaced position when collapsed, whereby the swab will easily fall off of the wings and a new one may be readily placed without manually positioning the swab.

Considering the final embodiment of FIGURES 7 through 10 inclusive, it is to be understood at the outset that such construction is used as a mop head to support extremely large rectangular shaped swabs. In this instance a connector 60 includes in reality two sections, one represented at 61 and the other at 62. Section 61 has ends which are surrounded by and integral with tubes 5" and 6". The tube 9 is connected between tubes 5" and 6" in the same manner as in the previous embodiments and socket 11 is mounted for universal movement on tube 9". Welded to the under side of tube 9" is section 62 of the connector 60, the welds occurring at the area indicated by W. As a further feature it will be noted that side '63 of section 62 is contoured in such a manner and provided with upstanding spaced portions 64 that define a space 65 within which socket 11" may be positioned by the operator. This latter positioning of the socket results in the mop handle being able to pivot about one axis only and is desirable when the operator wishes a straight forward movement of the mop.

Numeral '66 represents the left wing of the support and numeral 67 the right wing and due to the size of this over-all mop head, it would be infeasible to cause these wings to pivot about an axis located on the side of socket 11 remote therefrom. Nevertheless, these wings do not pivot at the ends of section 61 as prior art devices, but instead are connected to pivot on an axis remote from tubes 5" and 6" whereby the tips of the wings, one of which is shown at T" in FIGURE 10,. are collapsed to a 45 degree angle and spaced apart when collapsed an amount that is much less and along the same relative order as the previous embodiments. Thus, the loops 70 of wing '67 are journaled for pivotal movement on end 71 of section 62 and the spaced apart loops 72 of wing 66 are journaled on end 73 of section 62. To limit the 45 degree collapsing and control pivoting movement of wing 66 there is provided a member 75 having detoured portions 76 which encircle a portion of Wing 66 and loops 77 which are pivotally mounted about tube 6". There is provided a similar member 78 for wing 67 also provided with detoured portions 79 and loops 80 journaled to tube 5". Each wing 66 and 67 includes an area or portion 81 and 82 respectively, which is engaged by the locking disc of latches L in the manner previously described and when the latches are in the position of FIGURE 7 the wings 66 and 67 are in their extended coplanar position and members 75 and 78 are caused through the engagement of the wings with the detoured portions thereof to assume the position of FIGURES 7 and 8 wherein all of the mop head is in substantially the same plane. When the operator steps on the latches L" and elevates the mop support, then both wing 66 and member 75 as well as wing 67 and member 78 collapse to an extent shown in FIGURE 10 and obviously such results in the tips T" being much closer together than if the wings were pivoted to tubes 5" and 6".

From the foregoing disclosure and description of the invention which is illustratory and explanatory thereof, it is clear that the embodiments illustrated achieve the objects and advantages enumerated. Various changes in size and shape of materials as well as the details of the illustrated construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A mop head comprising an elongated connector frame provided with opposed ends, a pair of wings for effecting connection with a swab having spaced opposed pockets including relatively near wing receiving entrances, each of said wings having a pivotal end and a tip and being mounted in intersecting relation for pivotal move ment relative to said frame from a first position in which the wings and frame are substantially coplanar to a second position in which the Wings are collapsed in angular intersecting relation to one another and in angular relation to the frame, each wing having its tip receivable in a swab pocket and positioned adjacent to a frame end when in the coplanar position, and each wing being mounted at its pivotal end on said frame at a point remote from the frame end adjacent which the tip thereof is positioned when in its first position, and means associated with said wings limiting the amount of collapsing of said wings to maintain the tips thereof in angular spaced apart relation a distance corresponding to the distance between the entrances of the pockets.

2. A mop head as defined in claim 1 wherein each wing is pivotally mounted on the frame end adjacent the portion of the other wing when the latter is in its first position.

3. A mop head as defined in claim 1 wherein there is provided manually operable and releasable latch means for maintaining said wings in the coplanar position.

4. A mop head as defined in claim 1 wherein the last named means includes detoured portions of one wing encircling the other wing.

5. A mop head comprising an elongate generally rectangular frame having parallel sides and opposed end portions, a pair of wing members for effecting connection .7 with a swab having spaced opposed pockets including relatively near wing receiving entrances, each of said wings including a tip and connecting members extending from said tip for pivotal connection to the end of said frame opposite said tip, said connecting members for said wings crossing one another and being movable from a first position in which said wings are in substantially coplanar intersecting relation to a second position in which said wings are in collapsed angular intersecting relation relative to said frame, and means associated with said wings limiting the amount of collapsing of said wings to a position in which the tips thereof are spaced apart a distance no greater than the distance between the entrances of the pockets and said wings being freely movable toward the coplanar position for insertion of said wings into said pockets without manipulating said tips.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,069 Grant Apr. 4, 1916 1,237,269 Abraham Aug. 21, 1917 1,562,215 Fischer Nov. 17, 1925 1,618,553 Saul Feb. 22, 1927 2,741,790 Koehring Apr. 17, 1956 2,804,638 Vosbikian et a1. Sept. 3, 1957 

